Toronto Home Inspection

As some of you already know, Home Inspections are a service that we provide to GTA clients as a part of our consulting services. A few days ago I was contacted by a Real Estate agent to perform a pre-listing inspection on a property in Toronto.

If you don't already know, a pre-listing inspection is a thorough inspection of the property performed by a Home Inspector at the request of the seller. This is usually done to show potential buyers the condition of the home where some potential home buyers may be put off by some visible signs of concern.

It goes without saying that the findings in the report could either dissuade/persuade potential home buyers from making an offer. So the agent has a vested interest in the positive outcome of the home inspection.

Well, this particular agent took that vested interest to an entirely new level. 15 Minutes into the home inspection I discovered the poor condition of the deck. It was a major concern as it was not nearly up to code. It was missing posts, had no railings and screamed DIY. As the agent saw that I was inspecting the structure of the deck she interrupted me "Hey buddy, are you going to be scaring people off from buying this house?"

I brushed it off and continued my inspection, which lasted almost 3 hours. Before I left, she pulled me aside "Look, what we want to say in the report is that this house does not have any major hazards and concerns, every house has it's problems but this house has been well maintained...we're not trying to scare people from buying this house you understand?"

I have relatively thick skin. I submitted my report within 48 hours. Once she received the report, she called me. She claimed that I made some errors in my report.

For example:
-I estimated the age of the furnace to be 2-8 years old. She claimed it was only 6 months old
-I saw 2+ layers of shingles on the roof, she claimed there was only one.
-I listed the electrical as a Major Concern and recommended a licensed electrician or ESA inspector review the condition of the house. She claimed that everything was up to code.

I assured her, that if she could provide proof/documentation as to the validity of her claims that I would correct those items in my report and submit a new report.

Instead, what I received the following day was a bitter and vitriolic rant of how my report has caused her to lose thousands of dollars, how her client is enraged and how could I possibly have the nerve to make such findings in my report.

It is my duty as a Home Inspector to report accurately and unbiased on every component of the house. My report is often times what an unwitting home buyer uses to make the largest and most significant investment in their life. If I find anything that is of concern, I have a duty to report that in my findings.

The agent thought that she could "Tell" me what to write in the report and became increasingly harsh as she found that I would not "play ball".

I have since reported her to TREB and RECO. It is a scary thought that these people operate largely under the radar. Her client fancies himself a real estate investor and the pair have done over 8 deals in 10 years. Typical, the "real estate investor" does a few superficial changes to the property akin to lipstick on a pig and passes it off to an unknowing home buyer at an inflated price.

Unfortunately for these two, this time they hired someone with far too much experience in residential construction to fall for tricks.

As for her claims of the errors in my report, it has since been confirmed that the furnace is over 2 years old as I contacted the manufacturer/installer and previous HVAC inspector. I have also reported the property to the ESA and an electrical inspector will go by to investigate the hazards. Furthermore, I will follow up with the sale of this house and if I find that they misrepresented the condition of the property to the new home buyer then I will continue take measures to stop these people. I have attached a few pictures of my findings...you are free to make up your own mind.

If you are looking for a Toronto Home Inspector to perform a thorough evaluation of your property, give us a call. Toronto Home Inspections.

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Spring is around the corner

It's that time again, we're almost out of the quagmire that is winter in Toronto. There's no more snow/ice on the driveway, you can actually see the grass on your lawn that was hidden for months and you can start to think about spring cleaning in your house.

Winter leaves a mess behind, the yard is a mess, the windows/doors on the house haven't been cleaned for months, paint has chipped/deteriorated on the exterior of the home, gutters need a cleaning and the list goes on and on.

So as you're thinking about spring cleaning, why not think about incorporating some renovations into your home? An outdated kitchen/bathroom/basement...maybe just some new flooring, new paint on the walls...it doesn't have to be major.

The point is, you can make some dramatic changes to your home with a combination of a few minor renovations.

I don't know about you but I believe in "energy"...kind of along the lines of Feng Shui. Have you ever walked into an office/home and immediately an almost overwhelming sense of tranquility/comfort/balance overtakes you? Conversely, have you ever walked into a space where immediately you feel as if you can't breathe and feel as if an invisible cloud is looming over your head and literally sucking the energy out of you?...Well that's the kind of energy I'm talking about. Spas and resorts spend a tremendous amount of time/research into designing their spaces to deliver that soothing/relaxing feeling and atmosphere for their clients.

Cheesy "sounds of the waterfall" music aside, most of that is achieved through thoughtful construction design. Different materials have different sensations/moods/textures. The harmonious balance of the plethora of different building/construction materials on the market is what can make all the difference.

Not only are we a Construction company, but we specialize in working with our clients to make lifestyle changes/upgrades to their homes. Your home is an expression of who you are, it is your sanctuary. Your home can either be a relaxing, inspiring and rejuvenating abode...or it can be an unsightly, energy draining and costly burden. The difference is in the details.

Sometimes people call us up because they found us on the internet or some publication. They expect a "toronto renovation company" that can get them from A to B. I.E., they want to repair something in their home and they are shopping around for some skilled labour that can repair that item for them, usually for the cheapest price. That's not what we do/specialize in.

What we do is work with our clients in a personalized way to find out how construction/renovation can change their lifestyle/attitude about their home. We are not satisfied until you are blown away or until we find out just how much you can get out of your home with the budget that you have.

Even if you already have one area in mind, for example your basement. We'll start with a discussion on your budget and from there we will give you a long list of different things that you can do in your basement and stay within your budget. We bring the world of possibilities to your doorstep, then work with you to incorporate those changes into your home.

If you are looking for a Toronto General Contractor for you spring project, give us a call and I will be happy to discuss what we could do for you over the next months. As a part of our practice, you will receive an itemized breakdown of choices and an appraisal of your home at no charge or obligation. We are happy when we can offer solutions. So give us a call, visit our website and book your consultation today!

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